Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



P. H. (TUMMINS.`

Fifth Wheel for Vehicle.

No. 118,347. Patented Aug. 22, mi.

UNITED STETEs PATENT QEEICE.

PATRICK H. OUMMINS, OF ADAMS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND .EDGAR KENYON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,347, dated August 22, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. Cui/mins, of Adams, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circles or Fifth-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference b 3- in g had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

The natru'e of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a fth-wheel for vchicles, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure l is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan view.

A and B represent the two parts of the fifthwheel or circle, the first part A being made round and the other part B half round, fitting around the former closely. By thus making' the circle it is made much stronger, inasmuch as all the strength of one solid piece of iron is obtained.

This mode of connecting the parts makes a much more secure manner of connecting the forward axle to the reach, it being impossible for them to come apart even should the king-bolt break or lose out. In light wagons this invention may be used without a king-bolt. It also obviates all noise or rattle by the circle, it being impossible for the two parts to spread, and also excludes the dust and mud. I

The circle is fastened to the head-block C and reach D by three bars, a a., thereby preventing' wear on the bolts without weakening the circle; and should it become necessary to remove a bolt and replace it, it can be accomplished without taking the circle apart.

The two parts of the circle may be made of different kinds of metal to obviate wear.

On eaclrend of the circle is a hollow cap, D', to prevent dust and dirt getting into the circle, and when on will form nearly a whole circle.

For light wagons I intend to manufacture the circle in sections, forming what is called quarter circles. Y

Ou the under side of the clip E is a dowel, i, to prevent getting out of place even should the nuts ou the clip become loose.

Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The Vwithin-described ftlrwheel, with its lower part formed rounding and its upper part constructed with a rounding groove, the sides thereof extending below the center of part A to a line almost in contact with each other, thus effectually preventin g aseparation of the two parts when in use, and serving also to keep out the dirt, &c., substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the above, caps D D, substantially as and for the purposel described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two wit` nesses.

PATRICK H. CUMMINS.

Vitnesses:

FREnRrcK W. RIPLY,

GEORGE B. R. WHIPPLE. 

